Overseas property buyers looking to UK

01 April 2004

It seems the UK's rain and dismal, grey skies are more appealing to foreign buyers than many think.

New findings released by the UK's leading property website, Rightmove.co.uk, suggests that we are the favourite location for overseas property buyers seeking to buy newly built homes.

Leading the pack of prospective buyers were the Americans: just over 16 per cent came from across the Atlantic.

"This puts paid to the notion that Americans are turning their backs on the world outside the USA, with almost one in six of our overseas enquiries coming from the Land of Uncle Sam," comments, Nick McKittrick, the director of New Build at Rightmove.co.uk.

"Confidence seems to be returning and we're seeing more enquiries from the USA than from any other country."

He suggests that the reason for this lies in the variety of mod cons the UK offers in new homes - something our American counterparts are accustomed to.

According to the findings, second in line for new homes were the Germans, representing about nine per cent of enquiries; followed by the Irish with eight and a half per cent, and the Spaniards with just over seven per cent.

Nick McKittrick believes the French, who were in sixth position, with five per cent of the enquiries, "are less interested in buying new homes," and perhaps "prefer older style properties, or are just motivated more by food and drink than by the homes they live in."

In total interest for new homes came from 60 different countries worldwide, from our European neighbours to the sunny Cayman Islands. Almost a third of all enquiries came from English-speaking countries, including Australia and Canada

Mr McKittrick was naturally pleased by the findings, commenting, "All in all, it shows what a cosmopolitan place the UK is."

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